Geranium plant named &#39;Zolrolo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Geranium  plant, particularly distinguished by the dark rose flower color with blotch, dark green foliage with slight zoning, medium vigor, good branching, and a somewhat upright plant habit.

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Zolrolo’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Zolrolo.’

‘Zolrolo’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘Zolrolo’ has large, semi-double flowers, is relatively vigorous, but with a well-branched growth habit, and has good heat resistance.

‘Zolrolo’ originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘T066’ with unknown characteristics. The male parent of ‘Zolrolo’ was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘T034’ with dark lavender color with blotch, not very vigorous, and floriferous.

‘Zolrolo’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 1999 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Zolrolo’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the Fall of 1999 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in April of 2000 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Zolrolo’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Zolrolo’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘Zolrolo’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a flowering potted plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in August 2005 on plants that were growing in window boxes. Culture of these plants started mid February, 2005 in the greenhouse; plants were transferred to window boxes mid May, 2005.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown outside in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Geranium as a new and distinct variety. TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘ZOLROLO’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘Klegany’ (U.S. Plant ‘Zolrolo’ Patent No. 9,110) Plant shape Somewhat upright Round Leaf color (upper side) 137A 146A Flower color 73A with blotch 63A, N66A with blotch 53C, (upper side of upper base 155D base 155D petal) PLANT Plant height (cm): 20 Plant height (inflorescence included) 35 (cm): Plant width (cm): 40 Plant shape: Somewhat upright FOLIAGE Length (cm): 6.5 Width (cm): 10 Shape: Reniform Base shape: Hastate Base size (cm): 5 Apex shape: Very weak lobes Apex size (cm): 4 Color of upper surface: 137A Color of lower surface: 137C Color of zone: 187A Color of veins: 146A Margin: Bicrenate Petioles length (cm): 3-5 Diameter of petiole (mm): 3 Leaves smooth and hairy: Only at nerves Texture of leaves: Upper surface smooth Veins: Palmate STEM: Length of internodes (mm): 20-35 Color of stem: 143C Diameter (mm): 9 INFLORESCENCE Shape: Round outline Diameter (cm): 11 Umbel depth (cm): 6 Length of peduncle (cm): 10-15 Peduncle diameter (mm): 3-4 Color of peduncle: 187A; some 146C near peduncle Length of pedicel (cm): 2.5-3.5 Color of pedicel: 187B Number of flowers per inflorescence: 30 COROLLA Form: Semi double Shape: Round outline, upper petals about the same size as the lower petals, fringled flower Length of flower (cm): 4.3 Width of flower (cm): 4.8 Number of petals: 6 Length of petals (upper/lower) (mm): Upper 28 Lower 27 Width of petals (upper/lower) (mm): Upper 19 Lower 22 Shape petals: Obovate, base acute, upper end is truncate or rounded, margin is entire Color upper side of upper petals: 73A with blotch 63A, base 155D Color upper side of lower petals: 73A with small blotch 63A Color lower side of upper petals: 73B, nerves 73A Color lower side of lower petals: 73A fading to 173D Number of petaloids: 3; crumpled and differring in size Color petaloids: 73A Fading color when flower starts No aging: Duration of flowering: Continuous flowering throughout the Summer BUD (just before opening) Shape: Narrow elliptic Shape base of bud: Truncate Shape top of bud: Acuminate Sepals hairy and smooth: Yes Length (mm): 10 Width (mm): 5 Color: 146B, at base 183A Number of sepals: 5 Color of sepals: 146A Length of sepals (mm): 8 Width of sepals (mm): 3 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Number of lobes of stigma: 5 Color stigma: 60A Length of style (mm): 4 Color of style: 61B Number of anthers: 6 Length of anthers (mm): 3 Shape of anthers: Ovate Length filaments (mm): 9 Color of filaments: 155D, Top 73A Pollen present: Yes Color of pollen: 32A Fertility/seed set: No

-   Disease/pest resistance: No disease/pest resistance has been     observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 